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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. A. MAHON & W. J. GREEN.

ELEGTRIU GAS LIGHTBR- 1 No. 255,524. Patented Mar. 28,1882.

1) I uvI wvrom (No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. MAHON 85 W. J. GREEN.

ELECTRIC GAS LIGHTER. 7

Patented M51228, 1882..

. j z/wE/vrom 0W Bymttomey Phnlo-Ulhognphen Washington in c UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER MAHON AND WILLIAM J. GREEN, OF WASHINGTON, D. C.

ELECTRIC GAS-LIGHTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 255,524, dated March28, 1882.

Application filed February 20, 1882.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ALEXANDER MAHON and WILLIAM J. Gnnnmof Washington,in the county of Washington, District of Columbia, have invented certainImprovements in Electric Gas-Lighters, of which the following is aspecification.

Ourinve-ntion relates to that class of lighters which ignite the gas bymeans of a spark produced by joining and immediately separating twoelectrodes. I

Lighters of this class as heretofore constructed have been open to manyand serious objec tions-such as the injury and destruction of theelectrodes by constant exposure to the flame, the location of theelectrodes in such position as to destroy the symmetry of the flame andcast objectionable shadows, and the liability of the electrodes to "arythe position of the spark and render the lighting action uncertain.

Our invention is intended to avoid these difficulties; and to this enditconsists in two positively-operated movable electrodes, arranged tomeet over the gas-orifice and then recede out of reach of the flame; inarranging the gascock to operate both electrodes 5 in providing the cockwith device which serves both as a stop to limit its motion and as ameans of operating one of the electrodes, and in other detailshereinafter described. 7

Referring to the drawings, Figure l represents a perspective view of ourdevice in the.

preferred form. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the same with theposition of the electrodes changed. Figs. 3 and 4 are elevations of thelighter in a modified form. Fig. 5 is an elevation showing a secondmodification.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, A represents the body of an ordinarygas-burner provided with the usual horizontal cock,B, to control thedischarge of the gas, and with the usual tip or outlet, to, at the top.0 and I) represent the two vibrating electrodes or 1i ghting-arms, theupper ends of which are brought together and separated immediately overthe gas-outlet to effect the lighting of the gas. The electrode 0 issecured rigidly to the rear end of the cock B, and is carried by therotation of the latter through a vertical are past the side of theburner. The electrode D is pivoted near its (No model.)

lower end to the side of the burner, and provided with a sector-pinion,E, which engages in a similar pinion, F, formed on the forward end ofthe cock, as shown, so that the motion of the cock will cause the secondelectrode to be moved in the same manner as the first. The arrangementis such that the two electrodes move in opposite directions, passingeach other when in .line with the gas-outlet and falling back inopposite directions beyond the reach of the flame. The upper ends of theelectrodes terminate in small fingers b, of platinum or other suitablematerial, arranged to strike and pass each other with a frictionalcontact,whereby the production of the spark is insured. Either of theelectrodes may be insulated from the rest of the device; but it ispreferred, as shown, to insulate the arm 0 by connecting it to the cockthrough the medium of the section at, composed of gutta-percha or othernon-conducting material.

When the cock is closed the parts stand in the position represented inFig. l; but the act of opening the cock causes the electrodes toapproach and pass the burner, produce the spark, and then continue their movements until they have passed beyond the reach of the flame, asshown in Fig. 2.

It will be observed that the pinion F, in addition to operating theelectrode, serves also as a stop to limit the rotation of the cock byencountering the usual shoulders, 6, upon the body.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4:, A represents the burner, and B the cook,the latter being provided at its ends with two eccentrics or cams, f. GD represent the electrodes, made of a spiral form, mounted vertically inguides on opposite sides of the body, and seatedl at their lower endsupon the eccentricsf, so that when the cock is rotated to permit theescape of gas the eccentrics force the electrodes upward through theirguides with a rotary motion and then permit them to fall back again.

In order to insure the descent of the electrodes as the eccentricrecedes, spirat springs h are applied around the electrodes, and bearupon pins or shoulders i thereon, as shown. The upper ends of theelectrodes terminate in elastic fingers extending horizontally, asshown. The two electrodes are twisted and that when raised by the camstheir fingers b are brought against each other over the gasoutlet. Thefingers may simply meet and then separate as the electrodes descend, orthe rotation may be continued, so as to carry the fingers past eachother, as preferred. 4 It will be seen that under the above constructionthe rotation of the cock causes the electrodes to rise and meetin thegas and then separate and descend out of the reach of the flame.

In order to avoid the use of the springs, each eccentric may be slottedor grooved, as shown in Fig. 5, so as to engage with an arm or roller,70, swiveled to the lower end of the electrode, in which case the camwill serve to both elevate and depress the electrode in a positivemanner.

The leading feature of our invention consists in operating two movableelectrodes positively by the cock,and it is manifest that the detailsmay be modified without departingi'rom the limits of the invention.

It is also manifest that if the devices are used in connection with aninduced current it will be unnecessary for the electrodes to be broughtin actual contact with each other, the proper action being secured ifthey are brought suflicientl'y near to each other to permit the passageof the spark between them.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is- 1. In an electricgas-lighter, the combination of two movable electrodes and a cock,whereby both electrodes are moved positively in relation to each other.G

2. In an electric gaslighter, the combination of a burner and twomovable electrodes arranged, substantially as described, to pass eachother in opposite directions in the gas-jet and then fall back onopposite sides of the burner, away from the flame.

3. In an electric gas-lighter, the combination of a burner and twoelectrodes arranged to pass each other in opposite directions and fallback on opposite sides of the burner.

4. In an electric gas-lighter, the combination of two electrodes andconnecting devices, substantially as shown, whereby the electrodes aremoved positively in opposite directions in respect to each other.

5. The combination of the burner, the cock, the electrode attachedrigidly to the cock, and the second electrode, sustainedindependently ofthe cock and connected therewith, substantially as shown, to turn in theopposite direction.

ALEXANDER MAHON. IVILLIAM J. GREEN.

, Witnesses:

l. T. DODGE, W. C. DUVALL.

